Nigeria's struggling pay-TV operator TStv in another fake content scam, this time with a TStv letter falsely claiming it has secured rights to the EPL.

Nigeria's struggling pay-TV operator TStv is again embroiled in another shameless content scam with a letter circulating and falsely claiming that TStv has not only secured the rights to the English Premier League (EPL) soccer for its Grande Sports channels, but will also be giving the EPL to all Nigerian terrestrial channels for free.

It's all a lie.

SuperSport confirmed to TVwithThinus on Thursday that the EPL licensing and broadcasting rights reside with SuperSport for Nigeria that is showing the EPL content on MultiChoice Nigeria's DStv satellite pay-TV platform in the West Africa country.

The embattled TStv is notorious for its shocking lies about content, TV channels and acquisitions it never had, for shamelessly pirating sports content from the Middle East's beIN pay-TV operator, and for multiple ongoing lies to the public, consumers and distributors about its TStv decoders.

On Tuesday a purported TStv letter surfaced, claiming that it had "acquired the following media rights", including "English Premier League (EPL) media right [sic] for Sub-Saharan Africa beginning from 2019 to 2022".

"Please note that we would be providing this service to all terrestrial TV channels in Nigeria. Furthermore, Grande Sports 1-3 studios would be available for live match analysis".

The letter further erroneously claimed that TStv had "acquired the exclusive pay-TV and free-to-air rights for DFB Pokal in Sub-Saharan Africa for 2019 - 2022" and that "pre-season matches" would "air live on Grande Sports from 31 July through the month of August 2019".

"All the aforementioned services would be available for free across Nigeria until August when we would begin fresh distribution of decoders".

The same message and information were allegedly shared by TStv on social media on its Facebook account.

SuperSport said that TStv do not have the rights and that SuperSport has notified the Premier League, who will be taking the necessary action against TStv.

Animal Planet boss Susanna Dinnage dumps Discovery to run the English Premier League (EPL) as the first woman in this role.

Susanna Dinnage, the boss of the Animal Planet channel, has dumped Discovery to become the top boss of the English Premier League (EPL) as the first woman to hold this position, and will start in her new job as EPL CEO in early-2019.

Susanna Dinnage quit as the first vaunted global boss of Animal Planet a year after she was appointed as Animal Planet global president in November 2017. Before this she was chief content officer at Discovery Networks International

Susanna Dinnage is now switching one set of animals for a whole other set of animals as she replaces Richard Scudamore as the top exec at the EPL who is leaving at the end of this year.

The EPL - seen on SuperSport on MultiChoice's DStv - is the United Kingdom's top football league and hugely popular around the world with expensive and highly lucrative international broadcasting rights.

Discovery has named no Animal Planet boss successor yet. Susanna Dinnage has been at Discovery since 2009.

Susanna Dinnage quitting Discover's Animal Planet is shocking and surprising, given how she and Discovery effusively hyped her "global" Animal Planet role, the channel that of course got culled without much notification at the end of 2017 in South Africa on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform.

"We had a very strong field, but Susanna was the outstanding choice given her track record in managing complex businesses through transformation and digital disruption," says Bruce Buck, chairman of the Chelsea Football Club and the Premier League's nominations committee, in a statement.

"She is a leading figure in the broadcasting industry, a proven business executive and a great developer of people. She is ideally suited to the role and we are confident she will be able to take the Premier League on to new heights."

"Richard Scudamore, having provided exceptional stewardship for almost 20 years, will leave us at the end of the year in great shape and with an excellent executive team and board able to fully support Susanna."

Susanna Dinnage says "I am excited at the prospect of taking on this fantastic role. The Premier League means so much to so many people".

"It represents the pinnacle of professional sport and the opportunity to lead such a dynamic and inspirational organisation is a great privilege. With the support of clubs and the team, I look forward to extending the success of the League for many years to come."

Jean-Briac Perrette, president and CEO of Discovery Networks International, says in a statement: "Susanna has been a terrific leader for Discovery over the last 10 years. She has a strong understanding of brands and running diverse media businesses both in the United Kingdom and more recently with Animal Planet globally".

"She has been a fantastic teammate for all of us at Discovery, and we are delighted that she has been given this unique and groundbreaking opportunity to lead one of the world's preeminent sports organizations."

Ghana's Fly TV in contempt of court over continuing to broadcast Premier League football matches although the rights belong to MultiChoice and SuperSport.

Ghana's Fly TV, operated by Nour Vision Ltd, is in contempt of court after continuing to broadcast English Premier League (EPL) football matches in the West African country despite the licensing rights belonging to MultiChoice Africa and SuperSport.

In June MultiChoice Ghana secured an injunction in Ghana's high court against Nour Vision, barring them from airing the 2018 World Cup in Ghana over Fly TV's unauthorised broadcast on the pay-TV service of World Cup matches, other sports content as well as other TV licensing rights violations.

Fly TV stopped, and then MultiChoice Ghana again went to the high court to get an injunction against Nour Vision Ltd to also prevent Fly TV from specifically broadcasting EPL matches.

When the EPL started in early August, Nour Vision Ltd literally disregarded the injunction and started broadcasting EPL football matches in Ghana despite not having the rights to do so, and despite several prior warnings from MultiChoice Africa to other broadcasters to stop the pirate broadcast of specifically sport content.

Rabih Fahs and El Akhrass Akoghe, Nour Vision Ltd directors, have now been cited for being in contempt of court, with an application seeking their imprisonment that will be heard on 28 August.

Cecil Sunkwa Mills, MultiChoice Ghana general manager said the pay-TV operator will continue to work with local authorities to enforce the protection of acquired and licensed content from operators who steal it for illegal rebroadcast.

BREAKING. SuperSport extending its rights with English Premier League (EPL) to show live matches on DStv until 2016.

SuperSport is keeping its rights to show live English Premier League (EPL) soccer matches on MultiChoice's DStv in South Africa, Nigeria as well as elsewhere in sub-Saharan Africa, extending its contract ending this year for the period of 2013 to 2016, the EPL just announced.

Earlier this year MultiChoice said that the EPL contract for broadcasting rights was the only big contract which had to be renegotiated this year.

The costs of broadcasting rights which keeps escalating for MultiChoice at an annual rate faster than inflation, could see the pay-TV platform at some point in future start to having to choose about what rights to pursue further and which to drop.

Although the value of the new deal which will see SuperSport continue to broadcast EPL matches for the next four year has not been disclosed, its a given that the EPL will get paid more by SuperSport than the previous deal which ends at the end of the current season.

"We have worked with SuperSport for a number of years and are extremely pleased to extend our partnership," says Richard Scudamore, the Premier League chief executive in a press statement.